Conagra Brands has introduced Banquet MEGA Crispy Chicken Tenders in Original and Spicy varieties distributed in 22 oz. bags containing approximately 11 tenders that deliver 16 grams of protein per serving. The suggested retail price for the product is $7.49.
“Chicken tenders provide so much of what Americans seek in a meal,” said Ayesha Narula, vice president and general manager of Chicago-headquartered Conagra. “Convenient protein, easy prep, and delicious taste are among the many reasons consumers enjoy them. In preparing for the arrival of our Banquet MEGA Crispy Chicken Tenders, we found some fascinating insights on their broad popularity.”
Chicken in America: A Closer Look
Since the 1940s, chicken has steadily risen to become the USA’s most widely available protein. In 1996, chicken moved past pork to become the second-most available protein before overtaking beef in 2010. The average American’s total chicken consumption first surpassed 100 pounds in 2024 and is projected it hit 106.8 pounds per capita in 2027.
Driving the appetite for chicken is the Generation Z demographic [persons born between 1997 and 2012] seeking protein. Half of Gen Z adults are looking to add more protein to their diets – up 14% versus year ago, according to Circana. With 23% of Gen Z’s annual eating occasions marked as “Heat & Eat” meals, chicken tenders are an ideal mealtime solution. Nationwide, 48% of all consumers say they are actively seeking more protein, a figure that is up 6.8 points versus a year ago.
The following statistics further illustrate the depth of America’s appetite for chicken and chicken tenders.
• $1.8 billion: Annual retail sales for frozen chicken tenders and strips
• 3%: Three-year compound annual dollar growth for frozen chicken tenders and strips
• 62.3%: Share of households in the USA buying frozen prepared chicken at least once a year
• 27%: Tenders’ menu penetration rate; more than a quarter of all restaurant menus in the United States
$56.5 billion: Consumer spending at chicken-focused quick-service restaurants over the 12-month period ending in June of 2026, up 5% over the previous year
• 38%: Percentage of frozen chicken prepared at home in an oven, narrowly topping air fryers (37%) as the top preparation method
Adding to chicken tenders’ universal appeal is their ability to be customized with dipping sauces. Recent research on national eating trends found that top menu pairings include ranch (21%), buffalo (18%), honey mustard (17%) and BBQ (7%)12; while at home ketchup (51%) accounts for more than half of the condiment or sauce pairings with chicken tenders.
